Circular ring shaped brush section for sweeping machine

Abstract

A circular ring shaped brush section for sweeping machines, and procedure for production of such brush section is provided. The individual wires (4) in the brush section are held in position mutually in an area close to the internal periphery of the brush section by means of a ring-shaped layer (7) of a thermoplastic material and by a ring (6) which is clamped round the wires (4) and the ring-shaped layer (7). The brush section can be produced as follows: a sheaf of wires (4) is first creased and cut to length whereafter the wires (4) are cut to accurate length and then a layer (7) of a thermoplastic material is moulded or extruded on one end of the wires (4). The wires (4) are then given the shape of a coherent wire matting. The material (7) is surface cooled in a cooling device (12) whereafter it is forced into shape in a compression and shaping device (13). Then the matting is cut to length and can either be taken out of the machine as semi-manufactures or passed on to a hydraulic press (15) where they are folded to a circular ring shape and fitted into a ring (6).

I claim: 
     
       1. Circular ring shaped brush section with internal diameter d and external diameter D 1  for mounting on a shaft on which a number of brush sections can be mounted, so that together they form a cylindrical brush and which consists of a number of mainly radially oriented creased wires which have an approximate length of D 1  =d and are folded at the middle to a U-shape, and by a circular ring with an internal diameter d and external diameter D 2  which is clamped round the wires in the brush section characterized by the fact that the individual wires in the brush section are held together mutually in a continuous hub in an area close to the internal periphery of the brush section by a hub-shaped layer (7) of thermoplastic material, the hub having an internal diameter d and an external diameter D 3  the external diameter D 3  of the hub being at least as large as the external diameter D 2  of the ring, the individual wires in the brush section further being held together by the circular ring, said circular ring being clamped around the hub of the thermoplastic material such that the individual wires extend outwardly from the thermoplastic material and such that the individual wires are prevented from contacting the circular ring. 
     
     
       2. Brush section according to claim 1 characterized by each wire being of the shape of an unfolded single wire. 
     
     
       3. Brush section according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the external diameter D 3  of the hub is larger than the external diameter D 2  of the ring. 
     
     
       4. Brush section according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the wires are made of steel brush wire. 
     
     
       5. Brush section according to claim 1 characterized by the wires being made of nylon. 
     
     
       6. Brush section according to the claim 1 characterized by the fact that the hub-shaped layer consists of a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
       7. Brush section according to claim 1 wherein the brush section comprises the individual wires extending outwardly in a plane. 
     
     
       8. Brush section according to claim 1 wherein the brush section comprises the individual wires extending outwardly in an irregular zig-zag shape. 
     
     
       9. Brush section according to claim 1 wherein the brush section comprises the individual wires extending outwardly in a truncated cone shape. 
     
     
       10. A brush section for mounting on a shaft on which at least one brush section may be mounted, the brush section comprises: a plurality of adjacent, spaced apart wires, each wire having a first end and a second end; the first ends of the wires having a coating of thermoplastic material thereon such that the individual ends of the wires are secured thereby, the first ends being joined together to form substantially the shape of a continuous hub, such that the second ends of the wires extend outwardly from the hub to form the working portion of the brush; and   a containing ring mounted about the coated first ends of the wires to further secure the brush in a ring form, the ring being in contact with the thermoplastic material such that the wires are prevented from contacting the ring, thereby reducing wear on the wires.   
     
     
       11. The brush section of claim 10 wherein the wires are steel brush wires. 
     
     
       12. The brush section of claim 10 wherein the wires are nylon wires. 
     
     
       13. The brush section of claim 10, wherein the brush section is zig-zag shaped. 
     
     
       14. A brush section for mounting on a shaft on which at least one section may be mounted, the brush section comprising: a plurality of adjacent, spaced apart wires, each having a first end, a second end and a mid portion; the wires being folded at the mid portion in substantially a U shape, the first and second ends of the wires being substantially equidistant from the mid portion, the mid portions of the wires having a coating of thermoplastic material thereon such that the individual mid portions are secured thereby and are formed in the shape of a continuous hub, such that the first ends and second ends of the wires are spaced apart extending outwardly separately and individually from the ring and from the thermoplastic material to serve on the working portion of the brush; a U-shaped containing ring mounted about the coated mid portions of the wires to further secure the brush in a ring form; the containing ring having legs thereon, the legs being crimped to contact the coating of thermoplastic material such that the wires are prevented from contacting the ring, thereby reducing wear on the wires.   
     
     
       15. The brush section of claim 14, wherein the wires are steel brush wires. 
     
     
       16. The brush section of claim 14, wherein the wires are nylon wires. 
     
     
       17. In a wire brush in the form of a disc and intended to be mounted on a rotating drive shaft wherein the brush comprises a plurality of wires, each wire having a first end, the first ends of the respective wires being arranged circumferentially of one another to form an overall continuous brush and each wire having a second end radiating outwardly therefrom, the improvement which comprises, in combination, means for joining the first ends of the respective wires together with a plastic material to form a plastic annular hub and an inner metallic ring disposed concentrically about the plastic annular hub, the inner metallic ring having a substantially U-shaped cross-section having legs thereon, the legs extending radially covering the diametrically opposed sides of the plastic annular hub, and the legs being crimped thereto. 
     
     
       18. In a wire brush in the form of a disc and intended to be mounted on a rotating drive shaft wherein the brush comprises a plurality of wires, each wire having a first end, the first ends of the respective wires being arranged circumferentially of one another to form an overall continuous brush and each wire having a second end radiating individually outwardly therefrom, the improvement which comprises, in combination, means for joining the first ends of the respective wires together with a plastic material to form a plastic annular hub, the second ends of the respective wires having a length extending outwardly from the plastic annular hub, the plastic annular hub having an internal diameter and an external diameter; an inner metallic ring, the inner metallic ring having an internal diameter and an external diameter, the internal diameter of the inner metallic ring being smaller than the internal diameter of the plastic annular hub, the external diameter of the plastic annular hub being at least as large as the external diameter of the inner metallic ring, the inner metallic ring being disposed concentrically about the plastic annular hub, the inner metallic ring having a substantially U-shaped cross-section having legs thereon, the legs extending radially along the diametrically opposed sides of the plastic annular hub, and the legs being crimped thereto.